Farnham to Godalming walking guide

Exit Farnham station and cross the railway tracks to head downhill on Station Hill Road. The Q8 petrol station will be on your right and, after about 220 yards, you will reach to the A31 intersection. Keep your eyes open for the North Downs Way finger post, to your right at the junction of Station Road and the A31.

Follow the North Downs Way marker that soon leads to a gravelled lane that crosses the meadows by the River Wey, where you are likely to see deer. The path eventually leads to Moor Park House and the Heritage Trail. 

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Walk along the former carriage drive, now a shaded woodland path. Along the way, you’ll pass defences from World War II, a middle-Stone Age camp and caves, and a nature reserve. Moor Park House (01252 734477, open by appointment) is where author Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels) worked as secretary to Sir William Temple in the late 17th century.

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Leaving the grounds, you'll continue on the path for the next quarter of a mile. This will lead you passed Stella’s Cottage (the home of Swift’s best friend, Esther “Stella” Johnson) and the ruins of Waverley Abbey, the first Cistercian monastery built in England. If you pass Keepers Stud, retrace your steps to take the byway.

The track passes the impressive pleached beech hedges at Tilhill House and descends to Tilford, with the Barley Mow pub to the right. To the left is the village post office (closed afternoons Wednesday and weekends), which sells snacks and ices.

Continue uphill to a blind corner and Caesar’s Corner House and take the right-hand tarmac path across the road.

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Follow the yellow public footpath signs. The train forks to the right at Archers Hill House, skirting Pooh Corner House. At the tarmac road go right, downhill, with Highmead House to your left. Bear left at Whitmead House and continue uphill for about half a mile before you pass West Wey House. Turn right, downhill, and head to The Donkey pub at Charleshill, a few hundred yards later.

A walker’s lunch at The Donkey (reservations advised) isn’t a soggy sandwich affair. Maybe it’s the effect of a leisurely lunch, but walking in the afternoon always takes more effort. After Fulbrook Farm carefully follow the directions, keeping between the specimen oaks to your left and the telegraph cables to your right. Cresting the ridge of the field, climb the five-bar gate framed by two oaks. Bear hard left to cross the wooden railed bridge.

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Continue through to the entrance of Peper Harow Park. You can ignore the “no thoroughfare” notice. as it is a public footpath. Pass the estate church and cottages and the imposing façade of the main house, which has been converted into luxury flats. From here the bridleway route to Godalming crossing behind the cricket club pavilion is well signposted.

Entering on Borough Road, walk uphill to the Old Town Hall building, which is shaped like an antique pepper pot. There is a plaque to mark the world’s first public street-lighting scheme in 1881. Arrive at the High Street in time for teatime refreshments. The gold and black signs by the Old Town Hall will direct you to Godalming train station.

On your way, don’t forget to look above the shop fronts at the wonderfully erratic brickwork on buildings dating from the 1700s. 

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